News
MISIA releasing mini-album “Misia Soul Jazz Session” on July 26th!
Soul Jazz Session (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
R&B veteran artist MISIA is releasing a new mini-album this month! Titled Misia Soul Jazz Session, the mid/slow-tempo collection of 9 total songs consists of 2 new songs and 7 jazzy remixes. In conjunction with this release, MISIA is embarking on her Summer Soul Jazz tour in several cities in Japan.
The album CD will be blu-spec and able to play in CD players as well as Blu-ray players. The first press of the mini-album comes in a special digipak case with a sticker. Previews of the songs are available on MISIA’s YouTube channel (scroll down below the track list).
Chara new album “Sympathy” out on July 19th!
Sympathy (limited edition cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Chara is releasing her new album on July 19th! Titled Sympathy, the record will include 13 total tracks. Chara has collaborated with numerous artists for this disc, including KanSano, Kishida Shigeru (岸田 繁) of Quruli, kensukeushio of agraph, Kenmochi Hidefumi (ケンモチヒデフミ), mabanua, BASI, and TAKU.
Sympathy will be released in 2 editions: a regular album edition, and a limited edition containing an extra CD with 8 tracks recorded live at Chara’s “Tremolo Sparks” performance on January 22nd, 2017.
Rei releasing single and music book “CRY” on July 5th!
CRY (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Blues/funk guitarist and singer Rei is releasing a new single containing 4 tracks. Titled CRY, the release includes all original songs and a music book designed and illustrated by Rei herself.
Samples of the new release are not yet available. For clips of other music videos and live performances by the biligual guitarist, scroll down below the track list.
ALI PROJECT best album “Chi to Mitsu – Anthology of Gothic Lolita & Horror” out on June 21st!
Chi to Mitsu (album cover - Lolita version)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Gothic/lolita rock band ALI PROJECT is releasing a compilation album to commemorate their 25th anniversary this month! Titled Chi to Mitsu – Anthology of Gothic Lolita & Horror, the 3-disc set will include 31 tracks total on 2 discs and a Blu-ray disc with clips. Two of the songs are brand new, titled “Royal Academy of Gothic Lolita” and “Shoujo missou～Le sang et le miel”, representing the “lolita” and “horror” aspects of the collection, respectively. Other notable songs include “Seishoujo ryouiki,” the theme to anime Rozen Maiden Traumend and “Kyoumu densen,” theme of anime show Another. The Blu-ray disc will contain music videos of the two new songs and making-of footage shot in France.
Shimizu Shota new album “FLY” out on June 28th!
FLY (limited edition cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Soul/hip-hop/urban artist SHIMIZU Shota is releasing his new album FLY on June 28th! FLY is Shimizu’s 7th original studio album. It will include two hit singles, “My Boo” and “FIRE” for a total of 12 tracks. The album will be released in a limited edition with a DVD and a regular CD-only edition. The DVD will contain the PV for “Tokyo” and live clips of “Good Conversation”, “Soba ni…”, “My Boo”, “FIRE”, and “Sorezore.”
Miyazaki Nahoko new album “Milestone” out on June 1st!
Milestone (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter Nahoko MIYAZAKI is releasing her new independent album Milestone on June 1st! The album will contain 13 tracks total and include the songs “Kaze,” “Ano toki” and “Yasahii ao.” Nahoko is an artist of generally optimistic and emotional words. This album showcases more of her slice-of-life writing, backed by a sweet and elegant voice. Although the album release was originally announced for April 5th, the current release date is now June 1st, to ship several weeks after her Milestone Tour kicked off on May 5th this year.
Hata Motohiro “All Time Best” album release on June 14th!
All Time Best (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Singer-songwriter HATA Motohiro is releasing his first compilation album on June 14th! It is somewhat grandly titled All Time Best and includes his works from the past 10 years since his debut in 2006. Notable selections include “Synchro” (debut single), “Himawari no yakusoku”, “Uroko”, “Ai”, up to his most recent single “70-oku no Peace.”
Arai Akino cover album “Smile” out on June 14th!
Smile (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Veteran singer-songwriter Arai Akino is releasing her first cover album on June 14th! Titled Smile, the mini-album contains 6 tracks. Arai has written, collaborated, and performed for many singers over the years and established her distinct, wispy and child-like vocals in her own songs. I am curious about the interpretation that she will bring to the songs in this mini-album, ranging from Disney’s “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” to classic French singer Francois Hardy’s “Le Premier Bonheur du Jour.” Perhaps it is not surprising that Arai is releasing this album on an independent label, which she founded this year.
Hayashibara Megumi releasing tribute album to Okazaki Ritsuko “With You” on May 3!
With You (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Veteran voice actress and singer Megumi HAYASHIBARA is releasing a tribute album on May 3rd. Titled With You, the album is dedicated to Megumi’s late friend, singer-songwriter Ritsuko OKAZAKI, who died in 2004 at the age of 44. Ritsuko was well known for her work on anime songs such as “For Fruitsbasket,” the opening to the animated series Fruitsbasket.
Thirteen tracks on 2 CDs will be included, some originally sung by Megumi and some by Ritsuko. Five new recordings or cover versions will be included. The album is a limited release. Early pre-orders come with a large photograph and a clear folder.
T-SQUARE new album “Rebirth” out on April 26!
REBIRTH (album cover)
Courtesy of CD Japan
Japanese Jazz-fusion band T-SQUARE is releasing their new album on April 26th! Titled Rebirth, the album will contain 9 original pop/jazz instrumental pieces and include a DVD containing performances from THE SQUARE Reunion Live event. This release marks the band’s 43rd original album. The first press edition will include a special slip case and application post card.
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